The Two-Week Wait: Acupuncture & IVF

After you’ve finished with all of the bloodwork, injections, and procedures on the IVF road map, the hardest part is often the waiting period. Known as the “Two Week Wait”, this is the period between your embryo transfer and your scheduled pregnancy test. Acupuncture is a great way to not only help curb anxiety during this time, but also to help regulate your nervous system and improve blood flow.

Gentle acupuncture sessions during the two week wait are shown to help optimize localized blood circulation to the uterus, keeping the uterine lining receptive. Additionally, this kind of localized acupuncture helps to relax minor uterine cramping or contractions which some women experience after a transfer.

This kind of blood flow improvement is vital, as the body relies heavily on progesterone during this time to maintain the uterine lining. Many patients use synthetic progesterone inserts, and acupuncture assists this by making sure that blood flow is maximized and these hormones actually reach their targets efficiently.

Science is clear on another point; stress is bad for the body. In relation to fertility specifically, stress acts as a clear counter-operator, stealing your body’s blood flow and causing inflammation. Elevated adrenaline from stress binds to receptors in the muscle wall of the uterus, which can cause cramping and spasming. Your hormones become disrupted, and the release of cortisol and adrenaline directly suppress the parts of the body which manage your reproductive hormones.

You don’t have to spend the next 14 days agonizing and obsessing about what to do to treat symptoms or understand what’s going on. Give your mind and body a break, and see what is possible when you not only relax, but use proven science to aid in your journey. Acupuncture is a tool which we can use to help you with your fertility goals, and we’ll go over other services we provide which may also help.

The Fertility Specialists at Peaceful Spirit Massage & Wellness Centers are happy to discuss the various treatment options we have for you. Our Acupuncture experts are well versed in fertility assistance treatment, and we’d love to show you what is possible. Contact us today to get started with a free fertility consultation.

Sources:

The effect of acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer on the in vitro fertilization outcomes

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7142313/

Acupuncture for IVF

https://www.unimelb.edu.au/ivf/treatment/acupuncture-for-ivf